tuff country vs rough country

[Rossroams]

So upon looking at lift kits to add some clearance and replace the negative arched front springs I've found rough country and tuff country.

Rough country offers a 4" lift kit with new springs for the front and blocks on the rear. Blocks seem strange being that there are already blocks in the rear stock. It seems best if anyone was to order that kit to buy a 3-3.5" Add a leaf set to the rear instead of stacking blocks.

Then there's Tuff country that offers a 2-2.5" lift with a spring pack in the front and an add a leaf in the rear...

So who's installed these lifts and what's the ride like? Is the spring pack in the tuff country terrible or is it alright to ride in... considering these are 30-20 year old trucks!

 

[Mulochico]

I am assuming (hate that word) you have the ttb. If so, I did the Rough Country over 5 years ago. Works rather well. Not that bad to install. It took me a few days at a leisurely pace, but I did bushings in the pivot points, steering linkage, longer brake lines, etc. Hardest part was the alignment. We eventually had to order new alignment bushings with more range.

The rear blocks have not been a problem. I am looking to replace the shocks and have found a very limited choice.

If I had the time, I would have rather found a D60 and upgraded. I had limited time, and there were none close to get. Also I have 3.55 and most D60s are 4.10 so I would either need the rear axle also or re-gear. Neither were a very good option at the time.

I have done some light off-roading and it seems to work well.

 

[franklin2]

The lift springs in the front do give a rough ride. I would imagine the add- a leaf is going to make the rear ride harsher also. It will remove the progessive factory setup they had in the rear springs, and push them up higher for lift. I have the rear blocks and besides some axle wrap, they work fine.

 

[Dieselcrawler]

sky manufactuing makes a 6.5 inch shackle flip kit for the rear. i have one on my truck. add a 2 inch block and you have 8.5 inches of lift. now that sounds like alot, but stock f350 has a 4 inch block. so putting a 4 inch lift ontop of that normally means 2, 4 inch stacked blocks. i love their kit as it lets you retain the factory rear leaves, just lowers them. i have had 3000 lbs in the bed with no issues.

 

[Thatoneguy]

I can't speak for these two brands on our trucks, but on jeeps and Joyotas I would take rough country over tuff any day. Great quality for the price and I have never had anything but excellent customer service from them. IIRC, you're supposed to remove the stock block from the rear and replace it with the one that comes in the kit. Add a leaf are good for some things, but it makes the rides horrendous. I only like them If you're trying to help old springs out with trailer sag and stuff...

 

[Rossroams]

Thanks for the advice! I'm definitely leaning towards rough country, and I'll take a look at the shackle flip!

 

[franklin2]

sky manufactuing makes a 6.5 inch shackle flip kit for the rear. i have one on my truck. add a 2 inch block and you have 8.5 inches of lift. now that sounds like alot, but stock f350 has a 4 inch block. so putting a 4 inch lift ontop of that normally means 2, 4 inch stacked blocks. i love their kit as it lets you retain the factory rear leaves, just lowers them. i have had 3000 lbs in the bed with no issues.

You have no vibration from the driveline with the shackle flip? I have never done one, but heard it can mess with the pinion angle and give you some vibration that needs to be corrected with tapered shims inbetween the rear springs.

 

[Dieselcrawler]

No that's the nice thing with the 6.5 kit, it lowers front and rear mounts, keeping pinion at the same angle and wheels centered in the fender. Only downside is you can see the front mount. I only had 33's on the truck in the photo, has 36's now.

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[bj_idi]

I have PMF reverse shackle kit and has super duty front and rear springs. rides so much better than stock obs. day and night. I wasn't looking for a huge lift or anything but I have 35" tires on truck now. theres a few options for ride height and stuff, just something to consider

 

[bj_idi]

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[Thatoneguy]

I have PMF reverse shackle kit and has super duty front and rear springs. rides so much better than stock obs. day and night. I wasn't looking for a huge lift or anything but I have 35" tires on truck now. theres a few options for ride height and stuff, just something to consider

I've thought about finding a good set of superduty springs..... But my front springs are lift springs so unless I change things up a bit someday it's gonna have to stay for now.

 

[coffeerich44]

I did the Tuff country lift that offers a 2-2.5" lift with a spring pack in the front and an add a leaf in the rear about 4 years ago and i didn't really notice a huge difference in ride quality. It was a little stiffer but not much and had no problems with alignment. you can use standard size shocks too. The only noticeable difference was the steering seemed to turn much easier.

 

[coffeerich44]

I got my kit from sdtrucksprings .com